Request 120625-001

We’ve been a sourcing, shipping, and QC agency in China for over 14 years. In that time, we’ve built strong relationships with dozens of European webshops, many of which offer subscription-based products and services via SEPA Direct Debit. We also run three of our own subscription webshops: one via a Dutch company and two through Spanish entities, generating around €120,000 per month in SEPA Direct Debits.

Recently, we began supporting two charities and several Spanish companies with their SEPA processing. Together, these clients represent roughly €450,000 per month in SEPA volume. 

Our main challenge is raising SEPA Direct Debit limits:
• In the Netherlands, banks only allow gradual increases, slowing growth.
• In Spain, the process can take 4–6 months, which often deters new business.

These issues limit our ability — and that of our clients — to scale, since growth
depends directly on processing capacity.

We’re looking for a scalable solution to handle higher-volume SEPA Direct Debits — both for our own operations and for clients with similar needs.

We’re seeking your guidance, either as a advisor or service provider, to help us set up the best structure based on your expertise. This may include:

• Recommending the ideal legal/regulatory setup (EMI, PI, PSD2 agent, etc.)
• Supporting entity or license setup
• Assisting with applications and regulatory filings
• Advising on onboarding and KYC flows suited to webshops and charities

Our goal is to scale without being limited by banking or payment infrastructure constraints.

We’ve explored several potential directions from other providers and would now like to understand which path you recommend, based on your expertise and experience.

Here are the main options we’ve come across:

1. Become a PSD2 Agent under an EMI/PI:
   Operate under an existing license, allowing us to onboard clients with some flexibility. Setup typically takes 1–2 months.
   
   
2. White-label SEPA Gateway via a PI:
   Use a provider’s infrastructure and license to manage SEPA Direct Debits under our own interface. Suitable for handling recurring payments for webshops and charities.
   
   
3. Apply for our own PI license:
   A longer route (6–12 months), but gives us full control and scalability if volume continues to grow or we build infrastructure for others.
   
   
4. Use our existing companies and apply for SEPA services at NEO banks:
   This may be quickest, but we need guidance on which providers offer reliable SEPA services with reasonable fees — similar to traditional banks.

Conclusion:
We’re not fixed on any of these paths. Our goal is to find the most viable and scalable solution — and we’re looking for your advice on what setup you believe is most realistic and effective for us.